Senior Quality Engineer

Company Overview

Zeno Power is the leading developer of nuclear batteries – compact power systems that provide reliable, clean energy in frontier environments. By harnessing the heat from radioisotopes, Zeno’s batteries power critical missions on Earth, in space, and at sea. To bring this technology to market by 2027, Zeno is seeking out purpose-driven and innovative professionals who are comfortable working in a startup environment. Team members will have a direct impact in enabling commercial and national security missions from the depths of our oceans, to the surface of the moon, and in austere environments here on Earth. Zeno is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Senior Quality Engineer

Zeno is seeking a highly motivated Senior Quality Engineer to support the mission-oriented efforts of developing and bringing to market Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) technologies. This role is responsible for the effective implementation of Zeno’s Quality Management System in support of project execution, while facilitating collaboration across various departments to drive project success through quality assurance practices.  

You will report to the Director of Quality and serve as an independent voice of the customer, ensuring quality and safety expectations are met and exceeded at Zeno.  

In this role, you will:

• Support a project-focused Engineering team to ensure an effective implementation of Zeno's AS9100D quality management system.
• Proactively promote a strong quality culture throughout all of Zeno organizations. 
• Collaborate with Project Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Procurement functions, along with suppliers, to ensure quality standards are in place and maintained.
• Verify that supplier activities meet required standards and specifications.
• Support verification and validation activities for the assembly and testing of demonstration units.
• Facilitate root cause analysis and corrective actions to ensure completeness and process improvement. 
• Review supplier statements of work and define project-specific quality requirements for each supplier.
• Participate in design reviews and other design activities to ensure quality requirements are met.
• Support change control and material review boards as the quality representative including reviewing supplier waivers or deviations. 

Key Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field, engineering preferred
• Minimum 8 years of quality assurance experience
  • Quality assurance experience in a space, satellite, or aerospace environment with flight hardware preferred
  • Nuclear quality assurance experience is a plus
• Demonstrated knowledge of ISO 9001 or AS9100 standards
• Experience developing processes and procedures in a new quality management system implementation
• Experience with root cause and corrective actions tools and implementation
• Candidate must be a self-starter with the ability to influence cross-functional teams
• Ability to provide independent oversight of Zeno activities
• Ability to manage and support multiple concurrent tasks that require a multi-disciplinary approach

Job Functions

• Position requires in-office presence in Seattle (South Lake Union) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Remote work is generally optional on Mondays and Friday in our hybrid environment, but this role may require occasional in-office lab work on these days to support ongoing project needs.
• Travel: Travel is required, <20%
• Motor Abilities: Sitting and/or standing for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands)
• Physical exertion and/or requirements: Minimal, with ability to safely lift up to 15 pounds
• Repetitive work: Prolonged
• Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work
• Work Conditions: Stairs, typing/keyboard, standard and/or sitting working environment of >8 hrs./day

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated salary band for this position is $115,000 - $170,000. The final job level and compensation will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, years of relevant experience, skills, qualifications, certifications, and other business considerations.

In addition to competitive compensation, we also offer a generous benefits package, which includes:

• Stock options
• Flexible paid time off
• 401k plan with employer match
• 16 weeks of paid family leave
• Employer HSA contributions
• Transit benefits to put toward commuting expenses
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Relocation assistance
• Dog friendly office

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Note

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

Export Control

Applicants for employment at Zeno Power must be a U.S. person. The term “U.S. Person” means (i) a U.S citizen or U.S. national; or (ii) any natural person who is a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e., holds a Green Card), as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) or as a “protected individual” defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., admitted as a refugee or is granted asylum).